The State of Oregon just passed the legal hurdle of getting an inititive onto the Nov ballot to do away with gill nets on any inland water of the State of Oregon. If passed, this would put some pressure on the State of Washington also. This will not effect tribal fishermen, but could do wonders for Idaho's steelhead and salmon runs!!

It still has to pass. But it will be a good thing. It wont eliminate the commercial catch. They will still be allowed purse seins and other means. They will keep the same quota but just wont be able to use the old standby gill net to catch them. This should help out the wild run.

I believe they can commercaly use gil nets below bonneville and tribes can in some stretches further up? someone correct me if im wrong? This would be great if it would pass, lets keep our fingers crossed

Wonderful...now that just leaves a few more things to do away with to fully restore Salmon/Steelhead runs to what they should be.

Yeah, like four lower Snake River dams...

Non-tribal CF can currently use gill nets in certain areas of the lower C. If passed, the ban would allow NTCF to use purse seines for CFing so that their harvest would be more selective. Whole different rodeo using that gear though. Several years ago they banned gill nets at the mouth of the Skeena system in BC and the fish runs really rebounded.

Minnows? Nope. Shad? Not’a. Aquatic insects? Not even close. Go ahead fishin’ geeks, take the micrometer from out of your pocket-protector and start measuring. It won’t take you long to realize no two specimens in...
Read More